Staff COVID-19 self-testing programme

The information on this page is designed for members of GOSH staff only. If you are looking for GOSH guidance for patients and families about COVID-19, please click here for our dedicated information hub.

Please continue reading the below if you have a GOSH email address. If not, please visit this page.

The Government’s programme of Lateral Flow Testing for COVID-19 is designed to identify people who may have high viral loads of COVID-19 without showing symptoms, so that these people can self-isolate and avoid infecting others. It requires that you take a swab from your nostril, immerse this in a solution, and put drops of that solution in a testing device. The test takes around five minutes to carry out and results are available in half an hour. People who take part will test themselves at home, twice a week, and submit their results to the Trust.

1. Read this FAQ document to get a better understanding of what’s involved in the Lateral Flow Testing process.
2. Watch this video, which shows how to carry out a test
3. When you have read the document and watched the video, complete this consent form. Fill out the check boxes in the form to confirm whether you want to take part in the testing, and if you do, to confirm that you are happy with a few important terms and conditions. 

You will need to email lateralflowtesting@gosh.nhs.uk to arrange a suitable time for collection.

As part of the testing process, you will need to record your results through this simple online form. More information will be available when you collect your kit.

Below is a handy guide with some useful tips about the different stages of this process.

Please remember, these Lateral Flow Tests are not as accurate as the PCR tests we carry out in the lab. So, if you record a positive result you will need to organise a lab test to confirm this or otherwise. Similarly, if you record a negative result, we can’t be certain that you aren’t still carrying the virus, so it’s really important to continue following our Hands, Face, Space and Place guidance at all times.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 you should not carry out a Lateral Flow Test but should inform your line manager, self-isolate and arrange for a lab test in the usual way.

Finally, if you have had a positive PCR test for COVID-19 in the last 90 days you won’t be eligible to take part in Lateral Flow Testing.

All these details are further explained in the FAQ document below. If you have any questions that are not covered in this advice, please email lateralflowtesting@gosh.nhs.uk.